Yogi & Uddhav continue to exchange verbal fire

The political feud between the saffron alliance partners reached a flashpoint on Wednesday evening, as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray exchanged verbal fire in course of public rallies in the run-up to the May 28 Palghar Lok Sabha bypolls.

Addressing a large election rally at Virar in Palghar district, Adityanath charged that the Shiv Sena had back-stabbed the BJP and was doing things akin the one indulged in by the arch rival of Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji.

Without naming the Shiv Sena,  Adityanath said: “Those who try to distinguish the people of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra cannot be well-wishers of India. These are forces who are trying to weaken India.  They may be taking the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji but are doing things akin to the one indulged in Afzal Khan. These kind  of people should have no place in Maharashtra which is the land of Chattrapati Shivaji”.

Making no bones about his displeasure about the manner in which the Sena roped in the son of late BJP MP Chintaman Vanga and fielded him as its candidate, the UP chief minister said: “If there were to be unhappy soul around today, it would be that of late Shiv Sena chief Balsaheb Thackeray. Tell me as to whether there was any Indian or a nationalist who does not have huge respect for late Thackeray. But, late Thackeray never back-stabbed any one. He would fight from the front. He would fight and give befitting reply to anti-nationals”.

“Late Balasaheb would lose no opportunity to expose the divisive and national forces that tried to weaken the country. But, when I see the goings on in the Shiv Sena, I have strong to believe hat late Balasaheb’s soul would be most unhappy to see his party men trying to erode their own traditions and defeat the ideals of Shivaji Maharaj,”  Adityanath said, adding that the people in the state revered the Maratha and that there were scores of Shivaji statues across Uttar Pradesh.

Castigating the Shivaji for usurping the legacy of  Shivaji, the senior BJP leader said: “The entire country looks up to Shivaji. Chhatrapti Shivaji Maharaj is a leader of the entire country.. We have created several grand memorials of Shivaji in Uttar Pradesh. But, no one party cannot hijack or imprison the legacy of Shivaji. The People who take the name of Shivaji and indulge in the acts of Afzal Khan do not any pardon”.  

In retaliation, Thackeray dubbed Adityanath as an “import” from Uttar Pradesh whom the BJP had enlisted to campaign for a candidate brought in from another party. “ You hold chintan shibirs in the neighbourhood, Do you have candidates of your own to field in the elections?  What has happened to your party? You are importing candidates from other political parties... Here is leader (Yogi) who does not have respect for Chhatrapati Shivaji. He garlands Shivaji statue wearing chappals," Thackeray said while addressing a public rally at Nalla Sophara.